When you visit an exhibition of Jan Duytschaever you will immediately see the swollen forms. They conjure up the female figure of George Grard. The full female figure as in "big Matilde' by the sea in Oostend, full of life, fertile, feminine and blossoming. Made from Flemish clay (clay also a metaphor for  the Flemish culture of 'hard workers' )

Jan Duytschaever was born in 1955, he studied at Art Academy in Bruges. Jan was a building project manager until 2007 and now lives and sculpts in Bruges.

His current oeuvre is mostly sculptures in ceramics and in polyester to a lesser degree. Various works are formed with pouring clay. Pouring clay becomes, in Jan's hands, a sculptural material instead of the usual modelling clay.

After the poured clay is set he then adds clay and sands  and polishes, to make each piece has an individual 'character'.

The vibrant colours are an inspiration from the works of Anisch Kapoor. Thereby creating a brilliance that confirms the ..........

He is  inspired by Brancusi, the ......of the form represents life. He's sculptures are also inspired by the works of Karl Blossfieldt.

Jan's sculptural style began when someone handed him a book by Blossfiedt. This extolled the philosophy of infinite life. The beautiful round forms of seeds and buds which produce a living thing. This is still only one side of his  expression.

By looking at the work of Jan Duytschaever it goes back to nature, we experience the natural beauty and feel what nature has to offer.

The fallen tree (dead) has power to light space on new life. Is this a metaphor for our death?

Will our death also be an inspiration for the next generation.

Jan is inspired by the philosophy of William Schmid. Since all utopias have proved worthless (capitalism, communism, Catholicism, socialism, etc..) should mankind come back self empowerment'  

A beautiful life, mankind creates themselves. One learns to look back without feeling smell etc utopia as a hero after chasing fame etc? This in itself is experienced as beautiful things but also that it assumes that death and sickness is inherent in a beautiful life.

By looking at the work of Jan Duytschaever it goes back to nature, we experience the natural beauty and feel what nature has to offer.